S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
168
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 4, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sens. GIANARIS, BROUK, GOUNARDES, JACKSON, MYRIE -- read
twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the
Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to personal liability
provisions in certain commercial leases
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The real property law is amended by adding a new section
235-j to read as follows:
§ 235-J. PERSONAL LIABILITY PROVISIONS IN COMMERCIAL LEASES. A
PROVISION IN A COMMERCIAL LEASE OR OTHER RENTAL AGREEMENT INVOLVING REAL
PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN NEW YORK STATE THAT PROVIDES FOR ONE OR MORE
NATURAL PERSONS WHO ARE NOT THE TENANT UNDER SUCH AGREEMENT TO BECOME,
UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF A DEFAULT OR OTHER EVENT, WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY
PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR PAYMENT OF RENT, UTILITY EXPENSES, OR TAXES OWED
BY THE TENANT UNDER SUCH AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER FEES, CHARGES OR
PAYMENTS OWED BY THE TENANT UNDER SUCH AGREEMENT, SHALL NOT BE ENFORCEA-
BLE AGAINST SUCH NATURAL PERSONS AT ANY POINT IF:
(A) THE TENANT WAS:
(I) REQUIRED TO CEASE SERVING PATRONS FOOD OR BEVERAGE FOR ON-PREMISES
CONSUMPTION OR TO CEASE OPERATION UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 202.3
ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR ON MARCH SIXTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY;
(II) A NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS SUBJECT TO IN-PERSON LIMITATIONS UNDER
GUIDANCE ISSUED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 202.6 ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR ON MARCH
EIGHTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY; OR
(III) REQUIRED TO CLOSE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER
NUMBER 202.7 ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR ON MARCH NINETEENTH, TWO THOUSAND
TWENTY; AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01876-01-3
S. 168 2
(B) THE DEFAULT OR OTHER EVENT CAUSING SUCH NATURAL PERSONS TO BECOME
WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR SUCH OBLIGATION OCCURRED
BETWEEN MARCH SEVENTH, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY AND AUGUST THIRTY-FIRST, TWO
THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.